The Best Way to Clean Your Kitchen Appliances

It's vital to keep a clean kitchen. It not only takes care of that pesky bacteria that's harmful to your health, but ensures that your food will taste as fresh and tasty as possible. Did you know that failing to keep your coffee machine clean can actually affect the taste of your coffee? Coffee run through an unwashed machine can taste bitter!

Continue clicking through our slideshow for more tips and suggestions.

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Coffee Machine

Our java fans know how important that freshly brewed morning cup of coffee is. In fact, a bad batch can quite literally put a sour taste in your mouth for the rest of the day. Luckily, cleaning your machine is easy! Simply mix one part white vinegar to two parts water (should amount to a full pot). Run through your machine. Dump the mixture down the drain, then follow with running through one full pot of water.

If it's been a while since you last cleaned your machine, repeat the water and vinegar process up to two times. To ensure the best coffee, clean your machine at least once per month.

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Toaster

It may come as no surprise to hear that the toaster is often one of the least often cleaned appliances. Whether you have a simple pop-up toaster or a toaster oven, we're here to simplify the seemingly tedious and intimidating process.

First, remove the tray and clean. Second, flip the toaster upside down and shake out those pesky crumbs. We realize this process may be difficult for a larger toaster oven, so have someone assist you!

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Garbage Disposal

Does your garbage disposal...smell? It's OK. Garbage disposals need a bath, too, and we have an easy solution! Grab an ice tray and fill it with vinegar. Freeze into cubes, throw two to three cubes in your disposal and hit the button! Voila! Vinegar will not only help disinfect and clean, but remove unwanted smells. Other tips include grinding fresh citrus, such as a slice of lemon, or powdering your disposal with baking soda, followed by vinegar. This will also help unclog and clean your kitchen piping.

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Blender

Cleaning out your blender after making that deliciously healthy green smoothie can be a pain. Trust us, we know. How to resolve? Immediately after emptying your blended contents, quickly rinse and fill your blender with hot water, and a squirt of detergent. Blend! Try different settings to make sure all the nooks and crannies get covered.

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Microwave

In a microwave-safe bowl, create a solution of one part water, one part vinegar and fresh lemon slices or freshly squeezed lemon. Place in the microwave, and set on high for five minutes. This should help disinfect and steam clean, loosening up stubborn food splashes on the interior. Remove the bowl, and use a towel to wipe down the inside, using the boiled solution.

For hard-to-remove food, use the actual lemon peel to scrub away, or add a sprinkle of baking soda to the solution and finally, rinse and wipe down with water.

Tip: Does your microwave have an odor? Microwave a little natural essential oil in some water, or crumple up newspapers and leave them in your microwave overnight!

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Garbage Can

Depending on what kind of garbage can you have, the easiest solution may be to toss the garbage and pop the can in the bathtub! Give it a clean and thorough scrubbing with hot water, vinegar and baking soda! Or, alternatively, try some dish detergent! For garbage cans with extra odor or rotting food, it may be wise to consider replacing, or using bleach to clean it. If using bleach, remember to put on your cleaning gloves and open your windows! Bleach is highly toxic; it can dry out the skin and cause unwanted headaches while cleaning if the room is not ventilated!

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Stovetop

Unwanted splatters can get, well, annoying. Bubbled over water, sauces, oils...yeah, we hate that! The solution? Plain old water. Have a tea kettle or pot? Simply boil water and pour over your stovetop to loosen up the splatters. Use a soft scrub sponge, put in a tad bit of elbow grease and you should be set!

Tip: Still having difficulty? Add some fresh lemon, cream of tartar or baking soda and buff a bit. Rinse and wipe!

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Oven

Cleaning the oven can be quite the chore. Luckily, we came across this lovely (and natural) product from Shaklee, called Scour Off Heavy Duty Paste. This makes cleaning the oven a snap! The first step? Vacuum out crumbs and droppings. Second, bathe the interior of your oven in the Shaklee paste. Let sit for at least 15-20 minutes, grab a wet soft scrub, and rub hard. Remove the excess product with hot water, buffing for a sparkly surface!

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Refrigerator

First, remove all food and condiments from your refrigerator, tossing out turned and expired products. Second, pull out all of the drawers and shelving, placing in the kitchen sink. With a soapy mixture (hot water and dish detergent), scrub down and rinse all shelving and drawers. Place out and allow to air dry.

To clean the interior, use one part hot water and vinegar and scrub thoroughly. For stubborn splatters and buildup, use a touch of baking soda or cream of tartar and work into the buildup with a scrub.

Tip: To keep your refrigerator fresh and odor free, keep an open box of baking soda in your refrigerator!

There are several reasons why it's extremely important to keep your kitchen appliances as clean as possible. First and foremost, the kitchen is a sanctuary and should be treated like one! Rather, what we mean to say is your kitchen is your go to spot to get grub, and should be clean as a whistle, right? Having a clean kitchen, along with clean kitchen appliances ensures healthier food and a healthier you!

Bacteria lurks around in the most random places, spots that we may never even think about cleaning! We'll give you the simple rundown with some of the easiest and best tips to keep on your radar. Better yet, we'll give you the au naturale approach so you steer clear of dangerous chemicals.